This forecast period is unlikely to please anyone. Snow, if any, will be measured in flakes, not inches, through Friday. Unseasonable cold persists into the weekend, and when it does finally start to warm up, clouds and possible light rain showers show up late Sunday into Monday. However, taking in seasonal festivities should not be hampered by the weather for the most part, the proverbial silver lining.

Today (Thursday): The best chance to spy a flake is early in the morning, with skies likely to clear by late morning in all but the far north areas. Winds pick up from the west, making it feel plenty cold despite the sun. Highs reach only the low-to-mid 40s. Confidence: Medium-High

Tonight: Only scattered clouds and calming winds allow temps to drop off fairly quickly. Teeth-chattering lows range from the upper teens in colder burbs to the mid-20s downtown. Confidence: High

Tomorrow (Friday): Clouds should be scattered early but gradually increase as the day progresses. A few snow showers are possible late in the afternoon. Mainly calm winds make highs in the mid- to upper 30s less painful. Confidence: Medium-High

Tomorrow night: A snow shower is still possible in the early evening, but skies quickly clear. Lows range through the 20s. Confidence: High

Soaring over Washington, Dec. 11. (John Sonderman/Flickr)

A LOOK AHEAD

Saturday is a quiet one, with only scattered clouds. Temps are still stubbornly chilly with highs only in the upper 30s to low 40s, and lows mainly in the 20s. Confidence: Medium-High

Clouds are likely to increase quickly Sunday as a surge of moisture coming up from the Gulf of Mexico hampers our warm-up. Highs are unlikely to be better than in the low to mid-40s, and a few very light rain showers are possible into the evening. Lows hold in the mid- to upper 30s. Confidence: Medium

Monday still harbors the chance of a stray rain shower but it should end up a warmer day, with highs in the upper 40s to low 50s. Confidence: Low-Medium

SNOW POTENTIAL INDEXA daily assessment of the potential for at least 1 inch of snow in the next week, on a 0-10 scale.

1/10 (→): Snow focus stays mainly to our north the next few days, and then warmer weather keeps any showers liquid early next week.

David StreitDavid Streit grew up on a farm/ranch in Nebraska. Witness to severe weather of all varieties focused his career path. Degrees from the universities of Nebraska and Wisconsin prepared him to be a forecaster for Capital Weather Gang as well as his day job as COO of Commodity Weather Group. Follow